Blog Tour Stop and Interview: The Last Witch

The Last Witch Synopsis

For generations the Incenaga Witches have been forced to use their power to fulfill the wishes of others until they are drained of their magic and left to die. Desperate to protect his infant daughter - the last surviving witch - Emmeline’s father escapes with her to the forests where he vows to keep her hidden from the world and from the truth.

Sixteen years later, Emmeline is discovered and finds herself in the grip of a traitor who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means abusing her power until she dies. She is taken to a distant country and told she must marry the Crown Prince or her own country will be overtaken, its people slaughtered. But what sort of prince would marry a witch? And why would she be the difference between war and peace?

As she fights to regain her freedom, she is faced with a choice between a prince who offers a lifetime of security and a common gamekeeper who has no idea of her power, but offers his heart.

But who do you trust when your power can be used against you?

Interview

1.      When did you first know you wanted to write?

I wish I could be like all those other cool authors who say they have wanted to write since the day they were born. I didn’t realize how fun writing could be until about four years ago. I had just watched the movie “The Bucket List” with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and was so fascinated with the idea of making a list of goals for myself. I put some pretty goofy things on my list– “ride a camel,” “kiss a frog,” but I also included goals that I knew would take more effort. When I scribbled “write a book,” I chuckled a little because I didn’t think it was something I could accomplish while chasing three small children. A few weeks later, an idea came to me that wouldn’t leave me alone, and in the spirit of checking off an item on my bucket list, I jotted it down. Before long, I found myself sneaking away to write more and soon realized I had a new passion in my life.

2.      Which authors inspire you the most?

I especially love Shannon Hale’s work and overall persona. If you haven’t been to one of her signings yet, you should definitely try. She is so down-to-earth, hilarious, and friendly. I was so nervous to meet her for the first time, but she was nice as pie, in fact, she was giving out free pie! I remember thinking that I wanted to be just as cool as her someday.

3.      How did you get the inspiration for your novel?

It is in the early morning hours that I get my best ideas – and my worst ones. I had just dragged myself out of bed when Emmeline’s story popped into my head. Literally, my head was a fuzzy morning mess and then suddenly, I imagined a girl and her frightening situation. I jotted the scene down, hoping that as the morning wore on and I had a chance to wake up a little more, I would still think it was a good idea. Trust me, there have been plenty of times that I’ve laughed over my cheerios at the ideas I considered brilliant only moments before. But Emmeline’s story passed the breakfast cereal test, so to speak, and after a lot sleepless nights, THE LAST WITCH was born

4.      What is your favorite part about being an author?

There are lots of things I love about being an author – creating something that never existed before, exploring my imagination, working in my pajamas, I probably shouldn’t admit this, but one of things that I get a kick out is being able to “zone out” in the late afternoon and people just assume I’m working out the details of a scene, when really I’m just tired.

5.      What is your least favorite part about being an author?

The editing! I love the end result of the editing process, the satisfaction I feel when I get a sentence “just right.” But, oh boy, it can be painful sometimes!

6.      Could you write a bit about what your publication process was like?

I had a similar experience to Amanda Hocking when it came to submitting to agents and publishers. They loved my writing, said the story was great, but that there was no market for witch novels, or rather; the market was already saturated with them. I didn’t want to let Emmeline’s story get lost among my computer files, so I hired an editor, cover artist, etc., and put it out there myself. So far I’ve heard wonderful things so I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

7.      Do you have any upcoming projects?

I’m finishing up the final edits for THE UNDERGROUND WITCH, book two in the Incenaga Trilogy, which will be out in spring of 2013. I’m also finishing up the final edits for a historical fiction set in ancient Egypt that I’m very excited about. I haven’t decided on the title yet, but I’m leaning toward DESERT GUARDIAN. It is about a blue-eyed, blond-haired girl who inadvertently saves Pharaoh’s son and is rewarded with an invitation to join the elite royal school in Egypt’s capital. It’s an adventurous middle-grade novel.

8.      Describe in three or fewer sentences what makes your book unique and why a reader should buy it.

THE LAST WITCH is set in a fairytale world where the witch isn’t always the “bad-guy” and the prince isn’t always the most eligible bachelor. With danger lurking around every corner, THE LAST WITCH is a romantic adventure you won’t forget.

About the Author

Debbie Dee recently moved to southern Idaho with her husband and three children where she is learning how to be a country girl in her favorite pair of blue heels. She adores fairy tales and happy endings, but secretly crushes on the bad guy now and then. As a dedicated musician who practices way too much, she never expected writing would sweep her off her feet until she jotted down a scene from a daydream, which turned into two scenes, which turned into a messy house and her first novel. Since then she hasn’t been able to let a day go by without writing. Her website is www.debbiedee.com.

Websites and links- 

Debbie Dee's Site 

Facebook

Twitter

GoodReads

Amazon

Publication date - September 12, 2012 - available in paperback and epub

Praise for The Last Witch...

"The characters kept popping into my head during the day, and I couldn't wait for my nighttime reading. This book will result in late nights and lack of sleep!" - Brenda on Amazon.com

"I was totally sucked into this story and can't wait for more to come out." - Michelle on Amazon.com

"The book is a good read, especially for young adults. The characters are wholesome, but intriguing." -Kimmie from She Really Said It

"A great love story with exciting adventures and unexpected twists and turns." - Marsha on Amazon.com

"I rushed home from work to finish reading The last Witch and was actually sad when I turned the last page. But it was the kind of book where you sigh and say, 'Ah. That was a good book.'" - Rae on Amazon.com

"I love fantasy books and this is one fantasy/fairy tale that anyone would love to read." - Amy on Goodreads.com

Blog Tour: 90 Cats and No Litter Box in Sight

90 Cats and No Litter Box in Sight by Molly Zenk

They're perfect for each other…even if she doesn't know it yet.

 Glynis Kirby's love life stinks. Her boyfriend dumped her for another guy. Her next-door-neighbor held her hostage on prom night. And now she's been trapped in a Porta-Potty by a monkey with a switchblade. And she's not even going to talk about her date with the poly sci major with the Pocket Ouiji Board. Maybe she really is desperate enough to take everyone's advice--including her mother's (ugh!)--and date the dashing Daniel Bond.

Corin Lancashire runs the popular blog site mydreamgirl.com where he chronicles his less than stellar attempts to get noticed by his dream girl, Glynis Kirby. After taking the "all girls think stripteases are hot" advice from a reader, and discovering that "all girls but Glynis think stripteases are hot," Corin disables the comments feature on his blog and takes matters into his own hands to build a friendship-crawling-toward-relationship with his dream girl. But competing with the charming, suave, and well-dressed Daniel is a hazard Corin didn't anticipate, and neither is the information he digs up on Daniel that could threaten Glynis's life…

EXCERPT:

            Corin grabs my arm and spins me around to face him before I'm safe in the halls of the Math Department. Not many guys will follow you in there. It's like a Geek Den where everyone is too wrapped up in their research and books and whiteboards to think to ask a girl out on a date and I'm pretty sure that's what Corin was planning to do before the stripping and the singing.

             “Who put you up to this?” I demand. “Who? Was it Kathy? My mom? Who put you up to this?”

            “No one,” Corin protests. “No one put me up to anything. I just... I just needed a way to get your attention. I could tell you were about to leave so I... I'm not like this normally, I swear,” he adds. “It's just, well, uh... It's just that I thought of so many things to say to you and when the time came to actually say them, I blanked out and did the first thing I could think of. You don't need to Baker Act me or anything. I'm really just a shy guy.”

            “Shy guys don't strip in public.”

            “They do when they take really bad advice from people on the Internet.” Corin runs a hand through his Doctor McDreamy hair before raising his pale eyebrows and giving me McDreamy eyes to go along with his McDreamy hair. “You're probably not going to believe this, Glynis, but I'm not a freak or a stalker. I'm completely harmless. Really.”

            “You have yet to convince me of that, Crazy Bus Boy.”

            “Does that mean I get another shot?” He perks up at the thought. “You can call me whatever nick-names you want—good or bad—just give me another shot. I'll be boringly normal from here on out. I promise.”

            I take an unconscious step closer to Corin as he's talking because, the strangest thing happens as I'm looking up at his bright, hopeful face and coaxing smile. I feel safe. For the first time in almost a year, I feel safe.

            “Get off the bus tomorrow at my stop and you'll have that shot.”

            What's the harm in giving the guy a little crumb of hope? Maybe if he has hope, so will I.

Buy Links:  Amazon     B&N     Kobo     All Romance eBooks

About the Author:

MOLLY ZENK was born in Minnesota, grew up in Florida, lived briefly in Tennessee, before finally settling in Colorado.   She graduated from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL with degrees in Secondary Education, English, and Creative Writing.  She spent six years using those degrees teaching High School English, Poetry, and Creative Writing before going on “hiatus” to focus on being a stay-at-home/work-at-home Mom.   Molly is the author of two  historical fiction novels – Chasing Byron (Highland Press, 2008) and Unheard Melodies: Confessions Of A Poetic Muse (Wings Press, 2008) about Lord Byron and John Keats.  Chasing Byron is used in classrooms to make the Romantic Poets accessible to at risk kids and reluctant readers. Unheard Melodies was nominated for Best Book Of 2008 by Long And Short Reviews.  90 Cats... is Molly's third novel and the first in a four book series.  Molly is married to a Mathematician/Software Engineer who complains about there not being enough “math” or info about him in her author bio.  They live in Arvada, CO with their young children, one dog, and one cat.             

  Website     Facebook      MySpace

Halloween Read Release: The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama

The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama (A Cleo Tidwell Paranormal Mystery) is available in trade paperback via Amazon, and in ebook via Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Kobo.com, and other online retailers. You can also find The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama (A Cleo Tidwell Paranormal Mystery) on Goodreads.

Praise for The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama: “Prepare for the read of your life!”
— Perpetual Motion Machine
“The Burg gave us Stephanie Plum, Las Vegas gave us Lucky O’Toole, and now, Allister, Alabama, presents us with Cleo Tidwell.”
— Lane Robins, critically acclaimed author of Maledicte, Kings and Assassins, and the Shadows Inquiries series (as Lyn Benedict)
“Mystery, murder, mayhem, and...Elvis? Cozy in for a laugh-filled evening as Susan Abel Sullivan spins a ghost tale with Southern attitude and good style that you won’t be able to put down.” — Heidi Ruby Miller, author of Greenshift and Ambasadora
“Fans of Stephanie Plum and the paranormal will love The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama!“
— Sherry Peters, author of Silencing Your Inner Saboteur
“Imaginative, suspenseful, and funny...a unique, must-have addition to your to-be-read stack!”
— Kelly L. Stone, author of Grave Secret and Time to Write: No Excuses, No Distractions, No More Blank Pages 

Summary:


When Cleo Tidwell said, “I do,” for the third time, she had no idea her marriage vows would be tested by a gaudy Velvet Elvis painting. But Cleo’s not the kind of woman to let a velvet-offense- against-good-taste just hang--oh no, she’s on a mission to oust the King. Trouble is, Elvis won’t leave the building. And he’s attractin’ all manner of kooks, fanatics, and lookie loos to Cleo’s doorstep. Everyone wants a piece of the painting, but Cleo’s starting to suspect that whatever’s haunting the Velvet Elvis wants a piece of her husband. Why else would her hubby trade in his car for a ’56 pink Caddy, moonlight as an Elvis impersonator, and develop a sudden hankering for fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches? Between the death threats, psychic warnings “from beyond,” kidnapping attempts, invitations to join the Blue Shoe Loonies, and even murder, Cleo's fighting for her life, her marriage, and the perseverance of good taste everywhere. 

Giveaway! Starflower

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Starflower giveaway feature, 2012

 I am offering an autographed print copy of Starflower to the giveaway winner, along with fun extras (bookmarks, pencils, etc.).

US only.

Links:

Twitter: AnneElisabeth Stengl

Freelance editing site: http://www.stenglediting.com/

Book Summary:

Never Get Involved in the Affairs of Mortals

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps lovely Lady Gleamdren, Bard Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission . . . and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin finds his path entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her poet rescuer?

Release Date: November 1st, 2012

Author Bio: Anne Elisabeth is the author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a series of fantasy adventure novels told in the classic Fairy Tale style. The series so far includes Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood and Starflower, with Dragonwitch due to release summer of 2013.

Anne Elisabeth is married to the handsome man she met at fencing class and lives with him, a gaggle of cats, and one long-suffering dog in NC. Her first novel, Heartless, won the 2011 Christy Award for Debut Novel and was an INSPY Award finalist. Her second novel, Veiled Rose, won the 2012 Christy Award for Visionary Novel and was a Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year finalist.

Excerpt from Starflower:

The girl did not stir when Eanrin lifted her into his arms; her sleep was profound indeed. Her head lolled over his arm, and he was obliged to part her thick hair to uncover her face. It was an uncommonly beautiful face for a mortal.

However, this girl’s beauty was different from any he had ever before seen. For one thing, her skin was rich dark brown, and her hair glossy black. For another, she was imperfect. Her teeth, visible between gently parted lips, were a little crooked. Mud stained her skin, making it darker still, and her brow, even in sleep, was puckered with anxiety or fear. Her dreams must be wicked indeed.

Eanrin grimaced at the sight and almost put her down again. After all, a princess with dreams like those probably had a tale of woe to match. She would certainly wake with expectations of a handsome hero to aid her. As far as Eanrin was concerned, a dash of heroism was one thing, but commitment to a cause? Never. Rushing off to the rescue of Lady Gleamdren was different, for he had determined that she must be his wife and the sole inspiration to his life’s work. Besides, he loved her.

This creature meant nothing to him.

But blood oozed from the abrasions on her wrists. And her body, mortal and vulnerable, lay in his arms. Eanrin rolled his eyes heavenward as though to seek some holy aid. Then he braced himself and wiped the mud off her lips with the edge of his cloak. She frowned in her sleep and stirred, but did not wake.

“Nothing for it,” he muttered. Closing his eyes and trying not to smell her any more than he must, he leaned in and kissed her . . .

But you'll have to pick up Starflower to see what happens from there!